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Just like Tajikistan, Turkmenistan was once a part of the great Persia. In the 11th century, the country was ruled by the Seljuk Turks. The Mongols came in only by the 13th century. They ruled over the land until they were replaced by the Uzbeks in the 15th century. Before the advent of the 19th century, Turkmenia was divided into two lands, one went to the khanate of Khiva and the other went to the khanate of Bukhara. In 1868, the former was captured by the Russian empire. This is ushered the remaining region to the door of autonomy. It became a free land but the poorest among all the countries colonized by Russia.
In 1990, the country finally declared its sovereignty. It became a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Then it established its own Authoritarian government where Saparmurat Niyazov declared himself as president for life.